Christy Nandlal, a Trinidadian geophysicist, has built an international career in the energy industry as detailed in a recent interview with the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian.
Born and raised in Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago, she attended St. Stephen’s College before pursuing a petroleum engineering technology diploma at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). After graduating, she began working at WesternGeco, a geophysical services company headquartered in London, as an observer (acquisition specialist) at the age of 20.
By 27, she had made history as the youngest chief field geophysicist in the WesternGeco fleet, overseeing geophysical operations worldwide.
With nearly 2 decades of experience, Nandlal has played a crucial role in marine seismic exploration and geotechnical campaigns, managing and analyzing geological and geophysical data collected from the seabed and underground layers. This data is critical for assessing the suitability of locations for offshore drilling, oil rigs, wind farms, and other energy infrastructure.
She has worked in some of the most prominent energy-producing regions, including the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Campos Basin in Brazil, Sarawak in Malaysia, Australia’s west coast, the Kara Sea in Russia, the North Sea, and various parts of Europe, including the UK, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. She also worked on the ECMA Panorama Shell Campaign in Trinidad’s Gulf of Paria for DeNovo’s Zandolie Project.
Nandlal’s journey has not been without obstacles. She has faced significant challenges as a woman of color from a Caribbean nation in a male-dominated, Western-centric industry. "I always say I had to overcome what is considered a triple threat, which is being from a Third World country in the Caribbean, being a woman in the field, and being colored," Nandal told WE Magazine this past week.
Beyond workplace challenges, Nandlal has also witnessed the industry’s life-threatening risks. One of the most traumatic moments of her career occurred in the GOM, where she witnessed a colleague fall overboard. Due to a life jacket malfunction and an inability to swim, he was lost at sea despite efforts to locate him.
"It dawned on us at that time how risky the job is, and people take for granted a lot of the time the risk of being in the job that we are in. It's very, very high, but because of all the safety measures and the drills, people get comfortable, but you could have all the safety practices in place, all the rules and regulations; sometimes there is that little hole in the safety net that something could always slip through,” Nandlal said. The incident left a lasting impact on her, reinforcing her commitment to safety awareness within the industry.
Despite the hardships, Nandlal has continued to grow professionally and academically. She recently earned a master’s degree in oil and gas in energy management from the University of East London.
Her contributions extend beyond her own career—recognizing the financial hardships many students face, she established a scholarship program at her alma mater, St. Stephen’s College. This initiative provides financial support to three Form Three students each academic year, ensuring they can complete their education and sit for their CXC exams. Nandlal emphasizes that the scholarship is not necessarily for the top-performing students but rather for those in need who show academic promise.
In addition to her philanthropic work, Nandlal is an advocate for women in STEM where she actively encourages young people to pursue careers in technical fields.